JAPAN'S EAGER MINISTER FOLLOWS THAT ELVIS DREAM ALL THE WAY TO MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE

Not many presidential highway trips-cum-summits proceed during the porticos of Graceland, with the in isolation debate of Elvis Presley's mythological Memphis residence from Priscilla as well as Lisa Marie Presley, as well as finish with the display of the genuine bend from the single of the King's costumes.

But yesterday's special outing to the Elvis birthplace, written to applaud George W. Bush's special attribute with Junichiro Koizumi, was the day of firsts. It was the initial time the sitting US boss had visited Graceland. And prior to the Japanese budding minister, the boss of Costa Rica was the usually unfamiliar personality to have done the pilgrimage.

Mr Koizumi's attainment upon Air Force One was heralded with Elvis tunes, piped over the PA. After removing in the mood examination Elvis movies, the dual leaders arrived during Graceland, greeted with the sign: "Menfisu ni youkoso" - Welcome to Memphis.

Graceland is not only understatement, with the Jungle Room, full with dark gorilla statues, the loyalty to the road house room Elvis stayed in Hawaii, the billiard room draped in yards as well as yards of unusual material, his turn hair bed with inset mirrors, as well as the racketball justice arrayed with bullion records.

Even in the heart of Americana, there were reminders of Japan. Mr Koizumi could perspective the karate pack Elvis used to wear. He was the black leather belt as well as claimed he practised each day. As he epigrammatically observed: "There's the lot to it. It's not only violation bricks. you mean, how many times is the section gonna come out as well as conflict you?"

Mr Koizumi, nearing in the Jungle Room, pennyless in to the couple of bars of "Love Me Tender" as well as afterwards launched in to "I wish you we adore you", pulling Lisa Marie Presley tighten to him, "and reason me tight". The Graceland directors had motionless not to set up the karaoke machine, maybe out of esteem to tactful etiquette, or not wanting Mr Bush to crop up the celebration pooper by not fasten in the duet of "Jailhouse Rock".

Mr Koizumi additionally attempted upon the span of strange Elvis sunglasses (Mr Bush did not) as well as launched an theatrical representation of Elvis you do his "swoon", kneeling upon the belligerent arms outstretched as well as singing loudly, to Mr Bush's outrageous amusement.

Mr Koizumi is the committed fan: his album, expelled in 2002, of his tip twenty-five Elvis songs, sole 200,000 copies, though it was essentially in crack of Elvis copyright since it used as well as doctored the print of Elvis though looking accede from the photographer; Elvis Presley Enterprises has sensitively suggested him which if he wants to re-release the album, he should embankment the photo.

Even so, Mr Koizumi was compensated with the selected Elvis poster, whilst Laura Bush perceived the TLC (Tender Loving Care) necklace, something Elvis gave members of his womanlike entourage, says David Beckwith, the Graceland spokesman.

Jack Soden, arch senior manager of Elvis Presley Enterprises, says some-more unfamiliar dignitaries should be brought to the heartland. "It's no great if they stay in the presidential apartment of the Manhattan hotel. They need to see Memphis, Tennessee, the easier place, where you safeguard the many celebrated guest get barbecue, not Maine lobster."

That is only what Mr Koizumi received. He managed to equivocate swallowing an additional assisting of US beef during lunch, carrying already had to gnaw down dual portions in the politically driven photo-op to underline the brand new light of the Japanese anathema upon the trade of US beef.

The thought for the outing was Mr Bush's, desirous by the Camp David assembly with Mr Koizumi in 2002, as well as reinforced when Mr Koizumi serenaded him with an Elvis strain during the G8. After lunch the dual group went to compensate loyalty to an additional American favourite – Martin Luther King, assassinated in Memphis in 1968. Yet this revisit sets the brand new pitch for presidential intimacy: not Camp David though Camp Elvis.

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